"You called?" I ask Morgihranur as the servant turns aside and leaves us. I cock a brow at the Lady-King as she otherwise stuffs her face in a polite manner. She notices me, and probably barely so. Her hand comes up, urging me over, and I do just that, popping up a spot right across from her for reasons not so obvious to her.
She gulps down her latest load of food, some kind of omelette by the looks of it, "Wow... You are certainly something else to look at when you are full of magic."
"I'm not trying to have an active aura right now!" I whine, the machine I've been siphoning magic from is now overly focussed on me. While it's not capable of revenge, it certainly feels like it.
"Yes, I am familiar with such troubles." Morgihranur giggles as she sets down her utensil and pats her lips down a bit. I look across the table, taking in its contents rather than her actions.
"Still... I felt better when I lacked magic." I huff, brushing off my cloak to try and get at that itch the machine keeps putting on me. It's like it's constantly suckling at me, drawing blood in any number of ways.
"You get used to it," Morgihranur remarks, her hands going to her thighs as she stands up. I watch her wobble slightly, the usual cases of a recent, heavy-handed healing still affecting her.
"How are you doing? I hope you didn't call me here for another touch-up. I already solved the most death-bringing parts of your wounds." I tell her, letting my sarcasm settle in nice and proper.
"I am doing fine, thank you for asking. But no, I called you here to... To ask you two things. One question is a bit harsh, and the other is something far nicer. So, how would you prefer it?" she explains and asks, gesturing for the table filled to the brim with food. I raise a palm and shake my head. Not now, no, not while I have someone here who can see what I am.
"I can handle it either way." I answer, taking on a serious manner as it must be serious for her to suddenly have an awkwardness about her.
"Well then, here it goes, I suppose. Before you came to the rescue, the Earth Shaman. An Alxxcron, as he called himself. He said he was here for you. Are you able to tell me why?" she asks, a slight rattling going across the displayed weapons around the room. I look about at them, cocking a brow at how ingenious it really is. What is decoration at a glance is actually a conveniently placed pistol under the pillow as someone of the surface might do it.
Either way... I put a claw to the underside of my jaw and clamp on it tightly. The chitters come to a stop by force, and I try to at least make it look like I'm thoughtfully stroking my chin. If she buys it or not is anyone's guess, but it is certainly something I need to consider properly.
"If he were following me... I don't know why. I was not running from any osibindah hive prior to coming here. I can only assume coincidence and one... One that could only be made by divinity. If he was looking for me, I don't know why. We have a history, but the last time I ever saw him was ten years ago. I had simply assumed it was any other hive of osibindah. I've dealt with a few over the years, and none have taken to holding grudges." I explain as best as I can, not lying in any sense of the word at any point.
"Mm." she lets out, the rattling of the weapons still going on. She won't win, she knows that, but the commitment is still something to be commended. Her kingdom comes first, and she needs to make a point of that. Closed in and entitled as something like this is, it's an actual land with actual values and the like, and she's a dedicated actor as far as things are concerned.
She stops it, and a forced breath leaves her mouth wide open. She composes herself and comes back towards the table. A smile forces its way onto her lips, doing its best to ease the situation. It doesn't work entirely, but she still forces it on through.
"Now, the other thing. How would you feel about being a guest of honour at the victory party I plan on holding?" she asks, her quick laugh not as sincere as it could be.
"I'd be delighted." I answer, not seeing any reason to decline. Whenever I leave is entirely on Heiya and Hrurim as it's a promise to them I need to keep. Not something else. Actually...
On the topic of those two.
"Can I bring guests?" I ask, and she looks at me, blinking as she remembers something.
"Oh, of course! You came here with others. I suppose I should extend the position of honour to them, too. After all, they brought you here!" she giggles far more eagerly this time.
"I'm sure they'll appreciate the focus." I for once lie. Those two criminals? They'd hate the spotlight. They're far too used to walking the quiet roads and not getting much of anything in their line of sight. Let alone being in the eyes of so many and even I hate the idea of it. What was simply a nuisance once upon a time is still one today, a muted, deader version of it... But I can't say I will ever escape the paranoia of being an outed as an osibindah.
I can't ever allow a Thrurstradtur-Suhurlodst situation to happen again. Never mind what happened with Tryhpeltzweig way back when and Rose's caravan even more than that... Oh, I'm getting off track. Too concerned about a threat, I've nothing to worry about right now.
I'm the strongest in the kingdom, that's a fact. I am safe as can be. Safe, safe, safe. Always and forever safe.
"So, what's the plan with this party? A quick one or one with some preparation?" I ask.
"I plan on extending the invitation kingdom-wide. The capital will become the centre of it, and all are free to attend provided no legal obligations hold them up." she explains, not taking much longer than that to start prattling on about the finer details of it all. I simply snuggle in on my cushioned seat and watch her dig back into her food, breaking it up to blabber and talk.